2006 Chevrolet Corvette

When Chevrolet introduced the current Corvette, now-retired Corvette vehicle line executive and chief engineer Dave Hill had his excuse prepared. We asked, "Dave, there's so much technology in this car--why no five- or six-speed automatic trans with shifter paddles or driver-selectable shift modes?" Hill replied, "Well, guys, our customers haven't expressed an interest in that technology." Translation from corporate-speak to English: "Well, guys, our new trans isn't ready yet." So first-year C6 buyers got the same old--and we mean old--four-speed 4L65-E autobox. It worked well enough, and it did have driver-selectable shift modes. Unfortunately, they were limited to forward, reverse, and neutral.

General Motors's new Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic is a fresh piece of hardware and makes its production debut in this year's Corvette, plus the Cadillac STS-v and XLR-v. As in all Vettes, it's mounted transaxle-style at the rear of the car in the name of ideal weight distribution. Over time, this close-ratio box will find its way into all manner of cars and trucks and employ the latest electronics, technology, and metallurgy. As configured for Corvette detail, it offers a standard Drive mode, a Sport Drive mode, and a manual mode via steering-wheel-mounted shifter paddles.

No longer is driving an automatic-equipped Corvette a shiftless exercise in boredom. Even though the LS2 V-8 has loads of torque, there was a large rpm and power fall-off during upshifts with the old tranny. As the gear spacing is so much closer in the 6L80, the engine now always runs in its sweet spot. The transmission's first gear is lower than before, so the car launches harder and stays on boil through the ratios. And this sucker is smart: Drive gently, and gear changes go all but unnoticed. Let it know you're late for a date, and the shifts are firm, with a satisfying boot to the backside. Same for downshifts: Tip the throttle gently, and you get one gear. Boot it on the freeway, and it'll snap from sixth to third. The Sport setting reads aggressive driver inputs and adjusts shift points and firmness levels accordingly. Remember how much slower automatic-equipped cars used to be than clutch-and-stick types? The 6L80-equipped Vette is just two-tenths of a second slower to 60 mph than a six-speed manual example. Impressive.

The only frustrating part is the shifter paddles. Audi, BMW, Ferrari, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, and every Formula 1 team set up their paddles so they can be flicked by pulling backwards with your fingertips; the right paddle for upshifts and the left one for downshifts. Chevrolet insists that you punch the levers with your thumb for upshifts. GM product types swear they have research proving this way is better. But it feels counterintuitive at best and causes the driver's grip on the wheel to change each time he needs to shift. Dumb.